Bhubaneswar: She brought laurels to Odisha by winning the first runners-up title at World Supermodel India 2016 pageant. This Odia beauty pursued her passion of becoming a model since the age of 17 and after numerous portfolio shoots and online fashion shows, sashayed down the ramp for renowned fashion designer Anita Dongre. Meet Rhea Resham Bari.

This 22-year-old dusky beauty, dolled up in an embellished plum-coloured gown walked in the famed Wedding Junction fashion show recently. “It was an amazing moment for me. The trials, the fittings, the outfits, accessories and the makeup leading to the big moment when you had to catwalk in the presence of showstopper Shraddha Kapoor was terrific,” said an excited Rhea.

Picture courtesy: Facebook/ Alesia Raut Surryavanshi

Based in Mumbai since 2016, Rhea has been climbing the ladder in the modelling industry and bagging shows with known designers and fashion shows across the country. She has previously worked for celebrated designers like Manish Arora, Rocky Star and Archana Kochhar and has been a part of Lakme Fashion Week, India Beach Fashion Week and Tech Fashion Tour, to name a few.

She left her undergrad studies halfway and decided to participate in beauty pageants because of her passion for modelling and acting. She had also participated in La Mode Bangalore’s Top Model Hunt 2015 and Campus Diva 2016.

Picture courtesy: Facebook/ Yatin Narendra Gandhi

As a model, she has been undergoing rigorous grooming and fitness sessions to stay on top of her game. She also has a few words of wisdom for Odia girls who are interested to make a name for themselves in the glamour world. “Having a good height and ample amount of confidence are not the only prerequisites. You have to really work hard for opportunities to land in your lap. One should give a 100 per cent to the job and not get distracted in the face of glamour. It is a competitive field and one needs to be totally focused on being the best,” she said.

“My most memorable show was the Lakme Fashion Week where the ramp was set on a moving escalator at a mall. It was Manish Arora’s comeback show in India and the exuberant Ranveer Singh was the showstopper. His energy and enthusiasm are so infectious!” reminisced Rhea.

She also has a degree in acting from Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares: The School of Actors. Her hobbies include singing and dancing.